Breaking bonds

Madeleine broke free from her final paci on Saturday and hasn't looked back. There was no fanfare, no promise of a special toy to replace it, nothing. Simply, "Madeleine, it's time to throw this paci away. It's broken and doesn't work any more." Besides the expected immediate tears she hasn't asked for it or lamented it's loss. I can't believe we've overcome this anticipated milestone; my little girl isn't so little any more.

Outta control

Three weeks later and the garden has exploded. Corn is over 5 feet tall, tomato and tomatillo plants make it look like a jungle, basil is harvested by the basket-full (I grabbed a 1-gallon bag's worth last night), beans and squash and pumpkins are trellising, and the lettuce is gleefully abundant.

Pictures from last week.

We ate some delicious grilled squash and zucchini with our steak tonight. I wanted to take a picture but Justin devoured half of what was there before I even grabbed the camera so you'll just have to believe me. We did get some yellow squash at the end of last week that we ate ate in a fabulously fresh salad with market tomatoes and onions. Our neighbors are sick of me asking if they want more lettuce; I've already handed out tons of heads and still have overflowing rows and I'll be planting more soon (to harvest in September).

And I couldn't resist showing off some of Parker's attempts to be way more coordinated and adventuresome than most other 21 month old boys I know. He's our monkey.

We had a great visit with both sets of grandparents over the last month. I'll hope to post those pictures when I'm not busy gardening or landscaping...our latest project.

For perspective

Here's what part of the garden looked like on June 12th. Not bad for less than a month.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary

My garden has finally taken off! Most everything is thriving, even the plants that were sabotaged by a deer last week. I love spending time in here daily weeding and investigating the new growth of each plant. In another week or so I'll be ready to plant some more lettuce seeds and broccoli seeds for a fall crop. I can't believe summer is already almost half over...it seems like it just started here. The 4th of July was cool (low 60s) and rainy but it's supposed to hit 90 by the end of the week. I think I just heard my pepper plants yell "woo hoo!!!"

Stanley, ID

With a year-round population of 100, Stanley, ID is the West at it's best: 2 espresso stands/shops (we may buy our clothes at Goodwill but I won't drink crappy coffee), 3 fly shops, 5 restaurants/pizzerias, 2 gift shops, and one crummy bar. What else do you need? How about beautiful 11,000ft. mountains, amazing fishing, a random hot spring off the side of the road that sits in the Salmon River, and a great person to enjoy it all with? That my friends is a Cline vacation!

It was cold and rainy the majority of the weekend. Needless to say, we had a blast! The Sawtooth Mountains were spectacular, especially when lightening would strike and thunder rolled through the valley. The fishing was impossible but couldn't have been more picturesque, the food was fabulous, and the cabin was perfect. I posted way too many pictures but we had too much fun to not share them all.

Watching a kayaker maneuver rapids on the Salmon River. Our cabin: Pistol Creek

A trout at the fish hatchery in Salmon. A very informative tour helped us appreciate what Chinook and Sockeye salmon and Steelhead trout go through to fulfill their genetic destiny(traveling 900 miles to the Atlantic only to turn back for another 900 mile swim to spawn a few years later).

Where they raise fish to release into the river.

At an 8500ft. pass.

A big antelope

Flowers

Bizarre clouds forming at our fishing hole

Headwaters of the Salmon River. Too cold to catch anything but a beautiful place to learn some technique (not to mention drink some Summer Honey, smoke a cigar, and get hailed on). I now understand why Justin loses so many flies; I lost 3 this day.

Redfish Lake. A few miles from Stanley where Sockeye salmon return to spawn.

Goodbye Stanley. We'll be back.

The most random hot spring I've ever seen or heard of found just north of Stanley. Hot spring water is piped out from under the road and into the cauldron. In case it gets too hot you can use the nearby bucket to add some cold river water to cool the water down. We had our turn to boil in the witch's brew at 10:30pm Sunday night under the starry sky. Life without kids is grand!

Our last fishing stop on the way home. This is all there is to Ellis, ID: a post office and mosquitoes. We didn't stay long.

We are indebted to Nana and Papap who held the fort for us while we were gone. They tolerated lots of carousel rides and ice cream in an effort to keep Madeleine and Parker content. It was nice to come home but we are eagerly trying to plan our next getaway.